Background Summary

An outstation of Marymount, Chaparadza, had been built from Chishawasha by Fr. Kaibach in 1923 (cf. MM V p.69) and reopened by him in May 1928 (Box 142/1-letter of 29/12/28) but closed again in 1932 (MM IV p.330). In 1948 Fr. Hannan went with Johannes Chimusoro (Makawa) to look for a mission site. Since they saw a large weir being built in the Bopoma River to supply water, they chose the site of Marymount. Fr Kaibach accompanied Fr Hannan to search again for a better site. But, because Chakoma had been taken by the Seventh Day Adventists in 1949, they settled for Marymount.

 In 1949 construction was started by Fr. Hannan (64 10.09, 7.9 25, 0.6.9.38, v2.2.43) and three Canadian helpers (Campion House diary 15.12.49 An expeditionary force under Fr. Hector and Hannan left for Mt. Darwin to commence building operations” Box 175) Eight classrooms, a kitchen and later a community house were erected with the help of seminarians Chaparadza was rebuilt and Chakoma and Chiweshe (Fatima) schools were also opened in January 1950 “It took us until Febr.26 to finish the roofs at Chakoma and Chaparadza.” According to Fr. Muschalek, another six outschools opened in 1950 in makeshift classrooms: Mukosa, Makuni, Kamanika, Gwangwawa, Mutondwe and Kuondo (Box 206/2). In 1950 Fr. Hannan wrote about his visit to the three new outschools: Chakoma, Fatima in Chiweshe, where “the Catechist Damiano had taught catechism and prayers for the last two years” [i.e. since 1945], and Chaparadza, where a Catechist had been teaching for three years [1.e since 1947] (MM V. p.163 4). The boarding school at Marymount opened in 1951 with Standard 4-6. On 5.2.52, Fr Gasse left for Mt. Darwin, where he is to succeed Fr Hannan” (Campion House diary). He built the church (opened Oct 1953) and the LCBL convent in 1953.

In 1955 two Dominican Sisters came. Sr. Kiliana OP was in Marymount from 1956 to 1971 nursing many patients. In 1957 Fr. Wilson came and started the hospital, which was finished in October 1958. In 1958 Fr. Muschalck came as superior to Marymount. More than any other, he is associated with Marymount, where he spent many years. Together with Fr. Gasse they looked for a new mission site and settled for Fatima outschool in Chiweshe. When St. Albert’s was started, the whole area west of the Mutondwe and Ruya rivers was cut off from Marymount. After Fr. Muschalek had started the new mission in 1962, he returned to Marymount in 1964. In the meantime, Fr. Kensy and Fr. Von Kerssenbrock ran Marymount. A number of German Jesuits came there for the regency. From 1958 to 1966 about 48 new buildings went up on the mission: Fr. Muschalek built a new church (hall) in 1965, a new boarding place for girls, a large dining hall for the boys, two new dormitories for boys, and he enlarged the hospital, built a new convent for the African Sisters and many other things. On 8.8.66 Br. Gerhard Zocholl died in a welding accident. He “was six years at Marymount, did a great deal of work and was very much liked by the people.